Ford Recalls F-150s To Repair Cruise Control Radar

In yet another recall for the F-150, Ford has recalled the pickup to repair the cruise control radar module so that the vehicle's safety systems will work correctly.

With so many safety features dependent on electronic modules, you would think that an automaker would go out of its way to make sure that they work correctly. For the most part, they do.

Intelligent Safety Features

Take things like the camera modules that assist intelligent features like backup and parking capability, lane-holding capability, and much, much more. Without proper video input, you would not get notifications about vehicles to the side or rear, pedestrians, and the like. Indeed, several commercials illustrate how your Ford pickup or SUV can back up and park or put your boat into the water. It illustrates how powerful electronics have become.

A couple of years ago, there was a problem with some Ford vehicles whose video inputs were out of alignment. There was a significant recall about it in 2020 fixing the issue.

Video is only one aspect of today's safety hardware. Today's vehicles have a comprehensive arsenal that protects your vehicle is quite an amalgamation. The arsenal can include video, radar, lidar, or all three. These systems enable adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, lane-holding, and lane-change warnings. Indeed, they also enable your vehicle to offer pedestrian protection which is a real bonus.

If one of the systems is out of alignment, items like the adaptive cruise control function will not be present to help keep you safe. Yes, your vehicle will have cruise control, but it won't be part of your vehicle's overall safety hardware safety suite.

Ford Recalls Nearly 1,000 F-150s

That's why Ford has recalled nearly 1,000 2021 F-150 pickups to address the alignment of the F-150's radar module. Caused by a production error, the issue will prevent your pickup from maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles as part of the adaptive cruise control. And it is quite possible that automatic emergency braking could also feel an impact.

Meantime, Ford has recalled nearly 200,000 F-150s
to fix a problem with their drivehafts.

In another F-Series recall, Ford has recalled Super Duty pickups to repair exploding front airbag housings.

If the module is out of alignment, a crash could occur. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries due to the problem. The issue impacts a total of 839 F-150s assembled last summer.

According to the Ford Authority, the automaker will notify owners in early February. At that time, owners can bring their F-150s into their dealers, where a service technician will adjust the angle of the cruise control radar module for free.

Owners with concerns or questions can contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Customers should ask about Ford recall 21S52.

Agency Contact Numbers

Customers can also contact NHTSA at 888-327-4236 for more information. In addition, information is available through the NHTSA website www.safercar.gov.

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971 when an otherwise normal news editor said, "You're our new car editor," and dumped about 27 pounds of auto stuff on my desk. I was in heaven as I have been a gearhead from my early days. As a teen, I spent the usual number of misspent hours hanging out at gas stations Shell and Texaco (a big thing in my youth) and working on cars. From there on, it was a straight line to my first column for the paper, "You Auto Know," an enterprise that I handled faithfully for 32 years. Not many people know that I also handled computer documentation for a good part of my living while writing YAN. My best writing, though, was always in cars. My work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, etc. You can follow me on: Twitter or Facebook.